Vision Council Brings UV Message to NBC’s The Great American Health Challenge: NYC

ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council is sponsoring an episode of The Great American Health Challenge: NYC, which airs tonight at 9:30 p.m. on NBC New York Nonstop.

NBC Local Media, in partnership with GE, recently launched The Great American Health Challenge: NYC, a reality-driven series focused on spreading good health and wellness, and encouraging New Yorkers to make healthier choices while achieving a healthy lifestyle. The 12-episode series began airing on NBC New York Nonstop on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Fifteen contestants on five different teams (one team for each NYC borough) compete in daily health missions to capture the title of “Healthiest Borough.”

Today, contestants will turn into ultraviolet (UV) safety street patrol teams and hit the streets of New York as vision care advocates armed with sunglasses. With help from vision care experts Jamie Shyer, chief operating officer of Zyloware Eyewear and chairman of The Vision Council’s board of directors, and Justin Bazan, OD of Park Slope Eye, teams promote the importance of protecting one’s eyes against harmful UVA and UVB rays. As part of the two-hour challenge, contestants compete to get as many people as possible to sign The Vision Council’s UV Awareness Pledge, promising to wear sunglasses for the summer and throughout the remainder of the year, while spreading the message to friends and family.

“We saw this as a unique opportunity to teach contestants and viewers about the necessity of protecting their eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays,” said Shyer.

The UV protection episode airs a month after The Vision Council launched its national campaign, “UV Been Missing Something,” which encourages the regular use of UV protection for the eyes. The multi-year campaign aims to educate women, men and families about the harmful effects of unprotected UV exposure to the eyes and the skin around the eyes and how to ensure sun-safe activities.

To learn more about The Vision Council’s UV campaign, view a copy of "Hidden Dangers of UV: Keeping Your Eyes Safe" or download the new iPhone app “PackLists,” by visiting www.uvbeenmissingsomething.com.